This essay will examine how women are represented in Joyce's Ulysses. To do this it will examine how women are represented in 'Penelope' and 'Nauicaa' and it will then compare theses with previous work on 'Sirens' in order to establish an overall view of women within this book. This essay will particularly focus on how women in Ulysses are transformed into sexually alluring creatures or temptresses and the role of sexuality in the representation of women within Ulysses.
Before we examine the role of sexuality in the representation of women we must first acknowledge that there are two different points of view on whether or not Ulysses is a misogynistic text. Some critics would argue that it enforces stereotypes associated with women while others …show more content…
She is assertive and chose Bloom for a relationship. She was the one who courted him rather than the other way around. She encouraged him to propose as previously mentioned and is the engineer of their relationship. As Lillian Doherty states “Joyce's use of the Penelope figure is, in the first place ironic” this is due to her sexual freedom and desire, unlike the mythical character who waits patiently for her husband to return Molly strays from the confines of her marriage.
Through her chapter she recalls previous lovers and how they were chosen by her showing her power of choice and her assuredness in her sexual identity. She Pursued Boylan because she wanted to and is shown to have won him. This connects the idea of men as a prize to 'Nausicaa' in which Gerty attempts to win Bloom. Molly compares Bloom and Boylan as she is the one who has the power and choice to decide between them. She is entitled to her own sexual freedom and desire and her affair with Boylan provides her with independence from Bloom. Molly knows she is desired by men and takes pleasure in this which adds to female empowerment. Molly also comments on motherhood. This changes the concept that sex is solely for procreation and suggests instead that is can be for
Before we examine the role of sexuality in the representation of women we must first acknowledge that there are two different points of view on whether or not Ulysses is a misogynistic text. Some critics would argue that it enforces stereotypes associated with women while others …show more content…
She is assertive and chose Bloom for a relationship. She was the one who courted him rather than the other way around. She encouraged him to propose as previously mentioned and is the engineer of their relationship. As Lillian Doherty states “Joyce's use of the Penelope figure is, in the first place ironic” this is due to her sexual freedom and desire, unlike the mythical character who waits patiently for her husband to return Molly strays from the confines of her marriage.
Through her chapter she recalls previous lovers and how they were chosen by her showing her power of choice and her assuredness in her sexual identity. She Pursued Boylan because she wanted to and is shown to have won him. This connects the idea of men as a prize to 'Nausicaa' in which Gerty attempts to win Bloom. Molly compares Bloom and Boylan as she is the one who has the power and choice to decide between them. She is entitled to her own sexual freedom and desire and her affair with Boylan provides her with independence from Bloom. Molly knows she is desired by men and takes pleasure in this which adds to female empowerment. Molly also comments on motherhood. This changes the concept that sex is solely for procreation and suggests instead that is can be for